Two candidates for Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional District seat have weighed in on the practice of separating children from their parents as the nation’s immigration laws are enforced.

The practice raised outcry from religious groups as well at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. More than 2,300 children have been separated from their parents, who have been charged. The children are held in detention camps as the Trump administration enforces its “zero tolerance” policy on illegal immigration.

Congress was unable to find a fix on Wednesday, and has been unable to come to grips with the larger issues of immigration. President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to end the family separation crisis.

Dr. John Joyce, a Republican and dermatologist from Hollidaysburg, and Brent Ottoway, a Democrat and St. Francis University associate professor of communications from Hollidaysburg, are running for the seat in Congress currently held by retiring U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Hollidaysburg.

Franklin County is part of the 13th District.

“Dr. Joyce believes we should do everything we can to keep families together,” said Adam Breneman, Joyce’s campaign manager. “He supports legislative efforts supported by conservatives such as Ted Cruz and Mark Meadows to make this happen, and thinks it’s shameful for Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to try to block this for partisan political reasons.”

Buy Photo

Brent Ottaway speaks during a Q & A for U.S. Congress representative for the 13th Congressional District. The event was held at Menno Haven on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.(Photo11: Markell DeLoatch, Public Opinion)

“There can be no legitimate policy reason for traumatizing children,” Ottaway said. “Like most Americans, I find the policy cold-hearted and cruel. I’m dismayed that Republicans in Congress haven’t shown the courage to stand up to this administration when it goes over the line.”

Both parties are using the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals as a bargaining chip, he said. It’s unacceptable to put thousands of lives in limbo.

“Donald Trump's nationalist obsession, a poor strategic choice in the 21st century, is costing the U.S. our leadership role in the world—along with our moral authority,” Ottaway said. “Under the guise of making America great, they are putting an end to The American Story.”

The two candidates running in 2018 for Pennsylvania's Senate seat also issued statements.

U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, has defended Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy.

“No one wants to see children separated from their parents, and no child should be punished for their parent’s choice to break the law,” Barletta said. “What’s worse is that our broken immigration system encourages people to come to the U.S. illegally and risk putting their families in this situation.”

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey called the family separations “inhumane” and a moral question that goes beyond partisan politics.

"Congressman Barletta is defending a policy that has resulting in a child with Down syndrome being taken from her parents and housed in a cage,” Casey said. “Infants are being taken from their mothers. Children are locked up 20 to a cage. The president of the American Academy of Pediatrics described these horrific practices as child abuse that causes '"toxic stress' that inhibits brain development. It is indefensible.”